Injury of the developing cerebellum: a brief review of the effects of endotoxin and asphyxial challenges in the late gestation sheep fetus.

The vulnerability of the fetal and newborn brain to events in utero or at birth that cause damage arising from perturbations of cerebral blood flow and metabolism, such as the accumulation of free radicals and excitatory transmitters to neurotoxic levels, has received considerable attention over the last few decades. Attention has usually been on the damage to cerebral structures, particularly, periventricular white matter. The rapid growth of the cerebellum in the latter half of fetal life in species with long gestations, such as the human and sheep, suggests that this may be a particularly important time for the development of cerebellar structure and function.

Neuropathology and functional deficits in a model of birth asphyxia in the precocial spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus).

Birth asphyxia can result in sensory impairment, learning and memory deficits without gross brain injury and severe motor deficits. We developed a model of birth asphyxia resulting in mild neurological injury and cognitive impairment using a long-gestation species with precocial fetal development. Spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) underwent caesarean-section delivery or 7.

Neuroprotective properties of melatonin in a model of birth asphyxia in the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus).

Birth asphyxia is associated with disturbed development of the neonatal brain. In this study, we determined if low-dose melatonin (0.1 mg/kg/day), administered to the mother over 7 days at the end of pregnancy, could protect against the effects of birth asphyxia in a precocial species - the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus).

Behavioural effects of near-term acute fetal hypoxia in a small precocial animal, the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus).

We have previously developed a model of near-term intra-uterine hypoxia producing significant neonatal mortality (37%) in a small laboratory animal - the spiny mouse - which has precocial offspring at birth. The aim of the present study was to determine if this insult resulted in the appearance of behavioural abnormalities in those offspring which survived the hypoxic delivery. Behavioural tests assessed gait (using footprint patterns), motor coordination and balance on an accelerating rotarod, and spontaneous locomotion and exploration in an open field.

Microglial activation, macrophage infiltration, and evidence of cell death in the fetal brain after uteroplacental administration of lipopolysaccharide in sheep in late gestation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether uteroplacental delivery of endotoxin produces fetal systemic and central nervous system reactions that are suggestive of inflammation.

Study Design: Lipopolysaccharide (30 or 60 microg) was administered into the uterine artery of late gestation (135 +/- 0.3 days) pregnant sheep.

Uteroplacental inflammation results in blood brain barrier breakdown, increased activated caspase 3 and lipid peroxidation in the late gestation ovine fetal cerebellum.

Maternal infection is associated with perinatal brain damage, but effects on the cerebellum are not known in detail. In this study, we examined the effects of placental inflammation induced by administering lipopolysaccharide into the uterine artery of pregnant sheep at 134-136 days gestation. The fetal brain was collected 72 h later and compared to brains collected from age-matched untreated fetuses.

Sex differences in the pituitary-adrenal response following acute antidepressant treatment in sheep.

Rationale: Depression is more prevalent in women than in men, and therapeutic responses may also differ between the sexes. In addition, abnormal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is more common in depressed women.

Objectives: To further examine these phenomena, the present study was designed to investigate whether sex differences exist in the HPA axis responses of male and female sheep following acute antidepressant administration.